A Lyrical Analysis of Taylor Swift’s “The Albatross” — Part 1
Disclaimer: This is a compilation of thoughts, knowledge, and information gathered by someone who studied literature a decade ago. I’ve crafted this together using different sources, like the internet and my previous studies, to create this amateur analysis of Taylor Swift’s “The Albatross.” If you notice any mistakes or errors, or maybe you have your own interpretation, please leave a comment. Thank you! Shout out to English Teacher KP ❤
In this article we’ll be dissecting the lyrics of “The Albatross” step by step, using literary tools. My inspiration comes from English Teacher KP, who previously did a similar analysis. However, instead of creating a video like she did, I’ll be presenting it in written form. I stumbled upon her videos a couple of years ago, and she helped me grasp Taylor’s lyrics more thoroughly. We’ll begin with an examination of the title before delving into each segment, just as Taylor wrote and sang it. Understanding what the title means helps us guess what the song might talk about. I’ll refer to Taylor Swift as “The Speaker” because we’re going to analyze what the speaker is saying in this song or poem. Ok! Let’s dive right in.
“The Albatross”
The albatross is a big white bird that lives near the sea. It has a special meaning in stories and poems. When people say something or someone is an “albatross around your neck,” it means they cause big problems you can’t get rid of. In English literature, the albatross often represents a burden or a curse, linked with guilt or doing something wrong. This idea comes from a famous poem called “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem tells the story of a sailor who shoots an innocent albatross, thinking it’s bringing bad luck. But this act brings a curse on him and his crew. As punishment, he has to wear the dead bird around his neck. So, the albatross, which was initially seen as a sign of good luck, becomes a reminder of the sailor’s mistake and the consequences he faces.
Let’s move on to the first verse.
Wise men once said
“Wild winds are death to the candle”
A rose by any other name is a scandal
Cautions issued, he stood
Shooting the messengers
They tried to warn him about her
The first line of the verse begins with “wise men once said.” The diction or the choice of words by the speaker nods to ancient wisdom, setting a narrative tone reminiscent of epic storytelling. Through the choice of diction, the speaker invokes a sense of historical depth, echoing the thematic resonance of Coleridge’s tale. Following this is the quotation “Wild winds are death to the candle,” suggesting fragility and a short lifespan like a candle in the midst of wild winds. In this context, “winds” also serve as a harbinger of danger or disaster, as indicated by the pairing with the word “wild.” The “candle” symbolizes fragility and life. These lines use imagery to depict the delicate nature of the candle amidst the tumultuous force of the wild winds.
In those two lines, we can observe or hear alliterations, which are the repetition of sounds, such as “wise,” “once,” “wild,” and “winds.” We can hear the “wah” sound in the unstressed syllables, creating soft sounds in those lines. There is also a clear rhyme between the words “candle” and “scandal” at the end of the second and third lines.
The third line says, “A rose by any other name is a scandal,” which refers to Shakespeare’s infamous story of Romeo and Juliet. Originally, Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In the original context, Juliet is expressing that the names of things don’t change their essence. However, in the speaker’s adapted phrase, “A rose by any other name is a scandal,” there’s a humorous or ironic twist in meaning. Instead of suggesting that names are unimportant, it implies that regardless of what something is called, it might still have negative associations or cause controversy. The speaker wants to tell us that the essence of a thing is not solely defined by its name, but by its inherent qualities and associations.
On the last three lines suggest that someone is given a warning, as indicated by “cautions issued,” but the person remains still, symbolized by “he stood.” “Shooting the messengers” is a metaphorical phrase from the saying “Don’t shoot the messenger,” meaning not to blame or punish the bearer of bad news. Here, it implies that instead of accepting or considering the warnings, the person reacts negatively towards those delivering them. The final sentence, “they tried to warn him about her,” indicates that multiple people are aware of the warnings, yet he chooses not to bother them.
In the first verse of the poem, we see things from a third-person perspective. The speaker sets the tone for the whole poem with the opening line, “Wise men once said.” In the second line, it seems like the speaker wants to tell us about a dangerous situation where something fragile is at risk of being destroyed. Then, there’s a reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, suggesting that even though the albatross was originally seen as a sign of good luck and guidance, it’s now viewed as a burden, bad luck, or even a curse. The verse ends with the men ignoring warnings about the danger they face, showing how they’ve been warned but choose to ignore it. It seems like the men already know what the warning is about and that it’s different from what most people think. Instead of heeding the warning, the men blame those who talk about it negatively.
Move on to the chorus.
Cross your thoughtless heart
Only liquor anoints you
She’s the albatross
She is here to destroy you
This chorus is written from the second-person point of view. We can see that the speaker uses the word “your” in the first line. The first line presents a juxtaposition, the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effects, to the familiar saying “Cross my heart and hope to die.” Instead, the speaker writes “Cross your thoughtless heart.” This juxtaposition is striking because while the original phrase implies a solemn oath, the addition of “thoughtless” suggests that the person making the promise is unaware of the consequences they may face, creating a powerful contrast.
In the second line, the speaker employs the word “anoint” and pairs it with “liquor”. “Anoint” is often associated with religious or spiritual contexts, symbolizing blessing or protection. Anointing can serve as a form of spiritual safeguarding, signifying the warding off of evil or the provision of divine protection. In certain cultures or belief systems, individuals or objects are anointed with oil as a means of spiritual defense against harm or malevolent forces. The speaker juxtaposes this with “liquor”, creating another contrast. Liquor in literature often represents indulgence, where one may lose consciousness and clarity of thought. Thus, it implies a sense of excess or indulgence, suggesting that the individual or object is being overwhelmed by the effects of alcohol.
In the first line, the speaker instructs the listener to “cross their thoughtless heart,” and by the last two lines, the speaker reveals the danger discussed in the previous verse and what the people are guarding against. The speaker highlights the potential harm they face. Additionally, the speaker uses a metaphor in the third line by stating “She’s the albatross.” In these lines, we can also hear alliteration with the “sh” sound from “she’s,” “albatross,” “she,” and “is.” This creates a haunting, soft atmosphere in the verse.
Wise men once said
“One bad seed kills the garden”
“One less temptress, one less dagger to sharpen”
Locked me up in towers
But I’d visit in your dreams
And they tried to warn you about me
The second verse starts with an anaphora, repeating the very first line of the verse. This is followed by the saying “One bad seed kills the garden,” which suggests that a single danger could destroy everything around it. Another saying the speaker uses is a beautiful example of enjambment: “One less temptress/One less dagger to sharpen.” Enjambment is a poetic technique where a sentence or phrase is split into more than one line (or stanza). It leads to a pause between the lines when spoken aloud, creating tension that is released when the word or phrase completing the syntax is encountered. This effect is also known as Rejet. In this enjambment, we can feel that the speaker emphasizes the idea of singularity, from the repetition of the word “One”. It’s only one threat they’ve been discussing, without knowing the truth, but it shakes them all. “Dagger to sharpen” also indicates their readiness to eliminate the threat to protect themselves from danger. The speaker’s use of “dagger,” a harsh word, amidst the soft alliteration of “wah” from words like “wise,” “once,” and “one,” alerts us to the danger and the intention to kill.
In the fourth and fifth lines, the speaker employs a beautifully crafted juxtaposition. The speaker writes, “Locked me up in towers/But I’d visit in your dreams.” These lines utilize enjambment, creating a tension of contrast between each line. In the fifth line, the speaker utilizes the disjunction technique by employing “but,” which abruptly disrupts the sentence’s rhythm to introduce a contrast.“Locked” and “visit” convey contrasting meanings. The speaker aims to illustrate the freedom of dreams, where possibilities abound and anything can be achieved. In literature, dreams often serve as a form of foreshadowing. The speaker suggests that despite confining the danger within towers, where escape seems improbable, they will still be haunted by the very danger they sought to contain. Moreover, these lines offer a glimpse into the first-person perspective of the albatross itself. The concluding line, “And they tried to warn you about me,” implies the albatross’s awareness of how others perceive her.
To be continued. It’s quite a long poem, so I’ll split it into two parts to keep this article from getting too long.
In Part 2, I’m going to discuss my favorite verse, explain why I like it, and offer an interpretation of the entire poem by linking it to Taylor Swift as the speaker.
Read here for Part 2.
